Even though extensive literature on juvenile justice exists, best practices
are difficult to define (Elliot, 1998). The purpose of this Bulletin is not to
prescribe a specific best practice. Rather, it seeks to identify resources
(especially knowledge, principles, and people)
that can inform practitioners,
policymakers, and the public in their quest to develop and implement best
practices in the areas of juvenile facility
construction, operations, and staff training. This is really a search for "best
knowledge"; once this knowledge is located,
best practice is not far behind.

It is often easier to ascertain best practices in the area of
construction because the physical structures that result are available for a wide array
of examination and analysis. This is not always the case when searching
for best practices in the areas of operations and staff training. In these
areas, the search for models and examples of best practice is most
productive when it begins with people as opposed to places. Best practice is
found through best practitioners.

There has never been a better time to acquire knowledge from
practitioners. The expansion of juvenile justice has brought many new and
talented people into the field. Communication technologies are also better than
ever. Professional organizations (including the Alliance for Juvenile Justice,
the American Correctional Association, the American Probation and
Parole Association, the Council of Juvenile Corrections Administrators, the
Juvenile Justice Trainers Association, the National Association of
Juvenile Correctional Agencies, the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, the
National Juvenile Court Services Association, and the National Juvenile
Detention Association) offer access to abundant information, resources, and
personal contacts. The excuses for not
knowing are rapidly disappearing.